Bowling guide



p 16, 1969 H. M. KISTNER 3,467,379

BOWLING GUIDE Filed May 31, 1966 FIG! United States Patent 3,467,379 BOWLING GUIDE Howard M. Kistner, Box 1069, W. Villard, Dickinson, N. Dak. 58601 Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 553,739 Int. Cl. A63d /00 US. Cl. 273-54 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The guide is a straight rigid member which holds in alignment the bowlers forearm, wrist and the first joint of the ring and middle'fingers. In this way the bowlers middle fingers cannot be removed from a ten-pin bowling ball before removal of the thumb, while the other two fingers are unrestrained in their movement.

This invention is concerned with an appliance to be worn by a bowler and in particular relates to a device for aiding proper release of the ball in ten-pin bowling. It is well known that the wrist should be held stiff when bowling. If the wrist is broken in bowling, it frequently makes for an ineffective ball which fails to rotate for the full distance to the strike zone, causing what is termed a dead ball. Also, balls thrown with a broken" wrist often cannot be aimed accurately.

In ten-pin bowling the ball is large and for holding by the bowler is provided with holes for the thumb and middle fingers, that is, the middle and ring fingers, and it has been found that the sequence of release of fingers from the ball can have a significant effect on the rotation and accuracy of the ball when thrown at the pins; namely, it has been discovered that while all three of the thumb and middle fingers should be in the ball when it is aimed and at the start of the throw, the middle fingers should be retained within the ball until the thumb has been released, to develop a curve or hook on the ball, creating more drive or rotation on the ball and better pin action.

This invention comprises a straight rigid member which can be worn on the back of the bowlers hand and lower forearm and which has means for keeping the hand and the first joint of the middle two fingers aligned with the forearm without preventing free movement by the thumb. Thus, the device of this invention is able to keep the middle fingers in the bowling ball until the thumb has been released and is free to give the proper lift to the ball at the precise same time every time and to keep the wrist in the same position throughout the delivery of the bowling ball. When wearing the device of this invention the bowlers thumb must come out of the ball first and the fingers last.

By the ball being released in the properposition, the track on the ball is narrowed down and confined to a more uniform path with each throw, thus insuring the bowler that he is being consistent and making the action of the ball also more consistent. The device of this invention helps spot bowlers, both beginners and advanced, because by wearing the guide, the habit of breaking the wrist and releasing thumb and fingers at the same time will gradually be eliminated and the hand will be straight aligned with the forearm and therefore easier to aim at the desired spot.

The bowling guide of this invention is of great help to women bowlers. Women are ordinarily at a disadvantage in ten-pin bowling because of the heaviness of the ball which must be supported by the wrist. The device of this invention shifts the weight of the ball to the upper arm and elbow, overcoming this disadvantage. The bowling guide of this invention is helpful in teaching the game to beginners, teaching them to throw a hooked ball and prevent bad throwing habits from developing.

As mentioned, the device of this invention comprises an elongated straight rigid member having means to hold the hand and first joint of the middle fingers aligned with the forearm. To this purpose, the member extends along the forearm of the user to an extent sufficient for the alignment, the line of holding, to be established and has means, e.g. a strap, for being secured to the forearm, say, at about the middle of the forearm. The member extends forward over the wrist and hand of the user 4 toward the finger-tips of the middle two fingers. Toward its forward end the rigid member has means for holding the first joint of these middle two fingers against itself. Preferably, this means is a fairly tight elastic band which encircles the two middle fingers, holding them together and aligned with the forearm. By providing an elastic holding means this invention allows the knuckles themselves to be held against the rigid member while still permitting them to be bent to fit into the holes in the ball. The rigid member advantageously is provided also with holding means for the wrist and hand of the user. The device of this invention does not in any way prevent free movement of the thumb and outside fingers.

This invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing which is to be considered illustrative and not limiting and in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing the device mounted on the forearm and hand of a user; FIGURE 2 is a side view as in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the underside of the device and FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

As can be seen from the drawing, the device comprises the straight elongated rigid member 11 which can extend from about the central portion of the back of the forearm 13 of the user. The rigid member may be shaped and be provided with padding 15 for the users comfort. The rigid member covers the back of the wrist 18 and the hand 20 of the user and extends forward over the middle finger 22 and ring finger 25 of the user.

The device is provided with the strap 28 at the forearm 13 and with the band 30 at the first joint of the middle two fingers 22 and 25. As shown, strap 33 is provided to enclrcle the wrist 18 while band 36 is provided to encircle the hand 20, preferably at the base of the thumb. Members 33 and 36 may be either bands or straps and advantageously, both of bands 30 and 36 are elastic for ease of mounting the device on the hand and forearm. As can be seen from FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawing, the middle fingers 22 and 25 are held rather closely and tightly together by the band 30 while the thumb 40 and the outside fingers, that is, the index finger 44 and the pinky 48, are not significantly hampered in their movement.

To summarize, the device of this invention by holding aligned the forearm, wrist, hand and first joint of the middle two fingers of a bowler, helps the bowler to obtain proper release of the ball, eliminates sagging or breaking of the wrist and insures removal of the thumb from the ball before the middle two fingers can be removed. The bowler is enabled to hit his spot with consistency, create an action ball, rather than a dead ball, and is aided in throwing a hook or curve. The guide can be used with equal ease by right or left-handed bowlers. It may be desirable to elevate, for example, by creating a slight hump, that section of the rigid member which passes adjacent the knuckle of the middle finger when in use. In such manner, discomfort of this knuckle by continuous abrasion may be avoided.

What is claimed is:

1. A guide for a bowlers hand comprising a straight rigid member suitable for wearing on the back of the hand and lower forearm of a bowler and extending, when so worn, from the central portion of the forearm toward the tips of the middle and ring fingers and being insufficiently wide to cover other fingers of the bowler, having means for mounting on the forearm of the bowler and a single elastic band means for encircling the first joint of the bowlers middle and ring fingers and holding said fingers against each other and said rigid member whereby the freedom of motion of the thumb and outside fingers is not significantly restrained, the forearm, wrist, hand and first joint of the middle fingers of the bowler are kept aligned, and said bowlers middle fingers are prevented from being removed from a ten-pin bowling ball before removal of the thumb.

2. The device of claim 1 in which mounting means are provided to encircle the wrist of the bowler.

4 .3. The device of claim 2 in which mounting means are also provided to encircle the hand of the bowler.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the rigid member is shaped to confrom to the curvature of the forearm of the user and is provided with a padded lining.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,011,171 12/1961 Pell. 3,046,561 7/1962 Marinese et al. 3,217,332 11/1965 Gross. 3,298,689 1/ 1967 Santora.

5 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-87; 29425 

